A tragic stampede occurred at the historic Sheetla Mata Temple in Maghara village of Nalanda, Bihar, during Tuesday’s worship activities in the Chaitra month. The sudden crowd surge led to panic, resulting in the deaths of 8 devotees.
Massive Crowd Surge at Temple in Nalanda Leads to Fatal Accident
Nalanda: A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday in Maghra village, located in the Deepnagar police station area of Nalanda district, Bihar. A stampede broke out during prayers at the famous ancient Sheetla Mata temple, crushing 8 devotees to death. Several people were injured in the accident, some of whom are reported to be in critical condition.
According to reports, due to the month of Chaitra, a large crowd of devotees began gathering at the temple since morning. By afternoon, the temple premises were filled beyond capacity. Due to the pressure and chaos of the crowd, a sudden jostling broke out, which soon escalated into a stampede. Eyewitnesses reported that people fell over each other, and screams erupted everywhere.
During the stampede, several devotees were injured and fell to the ground. Those injured in the accident were immediately admitted to local hospitals and Bihar Sharif Sadar Hospital. Some of the injured are reported to be in critical condition and are undergoing treatment. Following the incident, chaos descended on the temple premises.
The incident sparked widespread outrage among local residents and devotees. Villagers allege that adequate security and crowd control arrangements were not made in view of the expected crowd at the temple. They say that if there had been adequate police presence and proper arrangements at the entry and exit gates, this tragedy could have been prevented. Upon receiving the information, police and district administration teams arrived at the scene and began rescue and relief operations.
The administration team arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. The situation within the temple premises is currently reported to be normal. However, an investigation has been launched into the incident, and aspects of administrative negligence are also being examined.
The Sheetla Mata Temple, located on the banks of the Panchane River in Maghra village, is considered a major Siddhapeetha in the region. Devotees from far and wide come here with their wishes. It is believed that worshipping at this temple provides relief from skin diseases and childhood ailments. This incident, which occurred at this deeply religious temple, raises serious questions about the safety of devotees.
